"There hasn't been a "substantiated" allegation of sexual abuse by staff against an inmate in the nation's largest jail system since 2021. At first glance, the statistic - based on Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department data - might appear to indicate that a federal law called the Prison Rape Elimination Act has finally accomplished its mission more than two decades after it was enacted by Congress. But a broad array of local oversight officials and advocacy groups are raising eyebrows over the claim, and bringing new scrutiny to how the Sheriff's Department investigates allegations of sexual abuse made by inmates against their jailers."
"L.A. County incarcerates about 13,000 people - including roughly 1,500 women - throughout its network of jails watched over by sheriff's deputies. Sheriff's Department records show that between January 2022 and September 2025, inmates filed 592 allegations of abuse and harassment against staff. None were deemed "substantiated," which the Sheriff's Department defines on its website as "an allegation that was investigated and determined to have occurred.""
No allegation of sexual abuse by staff against an inmate in Los Angeles County jails was recorded as "substantiated" from 2022 through September 2025, based on Sheriff's Department data. Between January 2022 and September 2025, inmates filed 592 abuse and harassment allegations against staff; none were deemed "substantiated." The Sheriff's Department defines "substantiated" as "an allegation that was investigated and determined to have occurred." L.A. County incarcerates about 13,000 people, including roughly 1,500 women. Civilian oversight commissioners, the county Office of Inspector General, and advocacy groups raised concerns that hundreds of complaints with zero substantiated findings indicate problems in investigative processes and accountability. A Nov. 4 virtual Prison Rape Elimination Act discussion prompted renewed scrutiny.
#prison-rape-elimination-act-prea #los-angeles-county-jails #inmate-sexual-abuse-allegations #oversight-and-accountability
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